Randwick City Council waits over 20 years for elderly owner to pass away
- Ellen Waugh, an eccentric artist, died in January 2024, just short of her 100th birthday.
- Randwick City Council purchased Waugh's South Coogee home for nearly $5 million to connect a coastal path.
- The connection is expected to enhance public access to the coastline and be named in Waugh's honor.
In January 2024, Ellen Waugh OAM, an eccentric artist and teacher, passed away just before her 100th birthday. For over 20 years, the Randwick City Council had been patiently waiting for her to pass in order to connect a coastal path in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Ellen had consistently refused lucrative offers from property developers and instead entered into an agreement with the council in 2002 for the first right of refusal to her South Coogee home, which had been in her family since the 1930s. Upon her death, the council purchased the property for nearly $5 million with plans to demolish it for a vital walkway connection between Coogee and Maroubra, significantly enhancing public access to Sydney's coastline. The coastal path currently requires walkers to detour for 10 minutes off the coastline to Malabar Road, but the new plans aim to allow uninterrupted access from North Bondi to Malabar, expected to be completed in a few years. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker expressed optimism about the project, stating it will significantly improve access to the coastline and benefit millions each year. Additionally, the new walkway will be named in memory of Ellen Waugh, recognizing her dedication to the local community and her criticism of unsightly development along the coastline. Her nephew recalled her love for the area's natural beauty and her advocacy for conservation efforts, making the new walkway a fitting tribute. The Randwick City Council is also considering extending the path further south to La Perouse, ensuring that residents and tourists can enjoy an unbroken coastal experience through the eastern suburbs of Sydney. The decision to name the walkway after Waugh honors her legacy within the Australian art scene and her commitment to preserving the integrity of the coastal environment. The city aims to reconnect the community with this iconic landscape, reflecting a broader push to maintain public access to environmental spaces, especially in urban areas with increasing development pressures.